In a remarkable display of consistency and excellence, German lugers Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt captured their seventh men’s doubles overall World Cup title during Saturday’s competition in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The veteran pair secured the season championship with one race remaining despite finishing third in the actual event.
The men’s doubles race victory went to Austrian competitors Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl, with Italy’s Ivan Nagler and Fabian Malleier claiming second place. Meanwhile, in the women’s doubles category, Austrian athletes Selina Egle and Lara Kipp successfully defended their overall title despite finishing fifth in Saturday’s race. The women’s doubles event was won by Italian Olympic champions Andrea Voetter and Marion Oberhofer, followed by German pair Elisa-Marie Storch and Pauline Patz in second, and Latvian duo Anda Upite and Madara Pavlova in third.
Olympic champion Julia Taubitz of Germany strengthened her position in the women’s singles competition with a victory that extended her points lead to 19 over compatriot Merle Fraebel, who finished second. Italian luger Verena Hofer completed the podium in third place. Taubitz now requires only a first or second place finish in next week’s finale at Altenberg, Germany to secure the overall title, regardless of other competitors’ performances.
The competition saw notable absences, including Austria’s Hannah Prock, who was forced to withdraw following an emergency appendectomy despite being only 30 points behind Taubitz entering the event. Only three women remain mathematically in contention for the overall title: Taubitz, Fraebel, and Austria’s Lisa Schulte.
American competitor Summer Britcher finished seventh in the women’s race and maintains fourth position in the world rankings, representing the sole USA Luge athlete participating in this weekend’s World Cup events. The luge World Cup circuit continues Sunday with the men’s competition in St. Moritz.